Rassie Erasmus has confirmed that a few Springboks won’t be match-fit in time for Japan, crushing their World Cup hopes, here is who they will miss the most.

South Africa's winger Aphiwe Dyantyi reacts after scoring a try during the Rugby Championship match between South Africa and Australia at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, on September 29, 2018. (Photo by GIANLUIGI GUERCIA / AFP)

Aphiwe Dyantyi’s short career has
been somewhat of a rollercoaster. A Varsity Cup standout just 2 years ago who
was just playing for the fun of it. Fast forward a year and he was taking to
international rugby like a duck to water on the way to winning World Rugby’s
Breakthrough Player of the Year.

2019 has been less of a fairy tale for the 24 year old, and almost cruelly his upward trajectory is now being halted before the game’s biggest event, the Rugby World Cup, Rassie Erasmus confirmed after the Test match against Argentina that Dyantyi, Warren Whiteley and Damian Willemse were all probably out of contention for World Cup selection.

Aphiwe Dyantyi likely to sit out of the Rugby World Cup

Of all 3 of those players one cannot help but feel the Lions winger will be the one that the Boks will miss the most. Whiteley is a proven leader and a good player, but the Boks have Duane Vermuelen to plug that hole. Sadly at 31, this would have been his last opportunity to feature at a World Cup.

Damian Willemse was being looked
at in supporting role as a backup fullback and 3rd flyhalf option
for the Boks and was going to play a bit part. He would have benefitted from
the experience of a World Cup, but he is only 21 and will get another
opportunity.

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Dyantyi on the other hand became
an integral part of the Rassie Erasmus way in 2018, barring the season opener
against Wales in the USA, he played every minute of Springbok rugby in 2018 and
that is telling of how well he adapted into the Springbok environment.

The Springboks are not at the
worst place as far as wide options are concerned, Mapimpi has performed
admirably on the left wing this season. Sbu Nkosi and Cheslin Kolbe have been
even better on the right wing, but none have a better understanding of the game
plan like Aphiwe Dyantyi and in a team in peak form at the moment, the Lions winger
would have been an even better prospect.

A good all-rounder with exciting flair

Aphiwe Dyantyi’s ability to make
something out of nothing is well known and to have both Bok wings with the
technical and tactical aptitude would have enhanced the Springbok cause. Aphiwe,
like Kolbe at 15, played a lot of his rugby in a position that requires
tactical nous – he was a flyhalf at school.

He has a good boot and has a good
sense of positioning while his anticipation improved with every passing game
for the Boks last season. His confidence and competitive streak are qualities
you cannot buy and coach into a player.

I had a conversation with him in
Port Elizabeth in the week leading up to the Wallabies Test last year, firstly
I was struck by how he was ever considered too small to play rugby – he was certainly
big enough.

What struck me the most though
was his sheer singlemindedness, there is confidence and swagger about Dyantyi
that you would always want in a team environment, it’s infectious in a way and
the Boks would have benefitted from that.

The Springboks won’t only miss
Dyantyi for what he brings on the field, his character off it will certainly be
missed, particularly in a long tournament like the World Cup.

He started the season slow due to
an ailment called a jumper’s knee, but by the end of Super Rugby he was getting
back to his best on the wing, he will be fit in time for the start of the
tournament, but will be short on match fitness.

As a coach, if there was one
player I would take a risk on, it would be Dyantyi, but the team is in a good place
and Erasmus will not want to upset the apple cart.

The Lions winger turns 25 on
Monday, I’d imagine it will be bittersweet as it is the day it’ll be fully
confirmed that his World Cup dream is over. He will be missed.